A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Council and councillors

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Catmose, Oakham

Contact: Kit Silcock  Email: governance@rutland.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

707.

RECORD OF MEETING

To confirm the record of the meeting of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 15 February 2018 (previously circulated).

Minutes:

The record of the meeting of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 15 February 2018 were confirmed, subject to the change noted below, and signed by the Chairman.

 

The Panel agreed that the wording at minute number 605 discussion point ii) be amended to read “It was suggested that Mr Tim Norton be named as a representative on the Task and Finish Group”.

708.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Act 1992 applies to them.

Minutes:

Mr E Baines     Item 7                Mr and Mrs Clough and Mr Norton were known to him

Mr M Oxley       Item 7                Holiday let in Uppingham

709.

PETITIONS, DEPUTATIONS AND QUESTIONS

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 217.

 

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes. Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received. Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

 

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes of the total time for 30 minutes. Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice. Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

Minutes:

No petitions or questions had been received. 

 

Deputations being made by those expressing an interest in becoming a member of the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group would be heard at item 7 of the agenda.

710.

QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE FROM MEMBERS

To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure rule No. 219 and No. 219A.

Minutes:

No questions with notice had been received from Members.

711.

NOTICES OF MOTION FROM MEMBERS

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule No. 220.

Minutes:

No notices of motion had been received from Members.

712.

CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE PANEL FOR A DECISION IN RELATION TO CALL IN OF A DECISION

To consider any matter referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to call in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

Minutes:

No matter had been referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to call-in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

713.

OAKHAM TOWN TASK AND FINISH GROUP - TERMS OF REFERENCES pdf icon PDF 64 KB

To receive Report No. 61/2018 from the Director for Resources.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mr Lammie, Chairman of Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to obtain endorsement of the Terms of Reference for the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group including appointment of one additional member.

 

Mr Lammie confirmed that three expressions of interest had been put forward for the 11th place on the task and finish group.  Each of the organisations had been invited to make representations to the Scrutiny Panel and the Chair invited them in turn to speak to the Panel:

 

Discover Rutland

 

The Discover Rutland Representative was unable to attend the meeting, but had sent some text to be shared with members, which the Chair read out to the panel:

 

Nominating a Discover Rutland Tourism Committee representative, Helen Sugden, for Oakham Task & Finish Group.

 

As the official body that is responsible for promoting the county of Rutland, Discover Rutland sees the importance of taking careful consideration over any development in the area. Rutland attracted over 1.8 million visitors in 2016 (STEAM), with shopping being one of the main economic growth areas. We recognise Oakham as being one of the main jewels in the county’s crown, however we see that there is a lot of potential and necessity for improving the appeal and functionality to both residents and visitors.

 

The Discover Rutland Tourism Committee would greatly appreciate the opportunity to be part of the decision making process to help Oakham progress into the future, whilst ensuring the elements of the past are highlighted and celebrated. We see shopping as a key area of focus for future marketing and would like to help stimulate Oakham’s economy through future improvements.

 

The representative we are proposing from the committee is Helen Sugden, a successful marketing professional, being Company Director of Unsworth Sugden Group. She previously ran a self-catering property in Hambleton and is now also a director of Otters Deli on Mill Street.  Helen is passionate about helping Oakham unlock its potential and becoming a more alluring asset of the county as a whole.

 

Unfortunately Helen is unable to attend the meeting today due to a prior work commitment in Leeds, but is keen to be involved and hopes to work with the Oakham Task & Finish Group  forward.

 

Oakham Residents Group

 

Mrs J Clough provided a statement as follows:

 

As the nominated representative for the Oakham Residents Group, I am requesting our inclusion on the Task and Finish Group, confident that we fulfil all the necessary criteria. On his election as Leader of Rutland County Council, Oliver Hemsley assured us that the council would be better at working together with the communities it served. We welcome this and are keen to co-operate with the council in this new initiative to regenerate our County Town.

 

My name is Joy Clough. I have lived in Oakham for 44 years, and raised a family here. I am a qualified teacher, and have worked in Market Research. Here in Oakham I have worked at Oakham Castle, and for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 713.

714.

THE CONVERSION OF DUTCH BARNS TO DWELLINGS pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To receive Report No. 60/2018 from the Director for Places (Environment, Planning & Transport).

Minutes:

Report No. 60/2018 was received from the Director for Places (Environment, Planning and Transport).

 

Mr N Hodgett, Principle Planning Officer, introduced the report the purpose of which was to review the Council’s approach to interpreting the regulations on the conversion of agricultural buildings to dwellings (Class Q of Part 3, Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and in particular in relation to open sided Dutch barns.  In addition, to consider whether a supplementary planning document is required on the conversion of Dutch barns.

 

During his introduction, Mr Hodgett confirmed that when the legislation had been introduced four years ago it was poorly drafted and there was no additional guidance.  In 2015 the Government issued some guidance and case law had further clarified the position.  These were not planning applications and as such a policy was not required, Officers were interpreting these cases in line with the legislation and precedents set by case law.  Further to this, Supplementary Planning Documents could only be prepared for the purposes of expanding on an existing Local Plan Policy  and these types of applications were not covered by the Local Plan.

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

i.      Mr Baines referred to section 2.7 of the report and stated that this clearly set out the Council’s position;

ii.     Miss Waller felt that it would be useful to provide a brief summary on the website to give members of the public some guidance.  Officers confirmed that as the guidance and case law developed the advice altered and that to ensure members of the public got the most up to date and relevant advice, it would be preferable to request a pre-application enquiry on specific sites; and

iii.    A discussion would be had regarding the best way to communicate advice in this area.

 

AGREED

 

The Panel ENDORSED the Council’s current position in relation to applications to convert Dutch barns to dwellings and that there was no need to prepare Supplementary Planning Guidance.

 

--o0o--

Mr N Hodgett left the meeting and did not return.

--o0o--

 

715.

SCRUTINY PROGRAMME 2017/18 & REVIEW OF FORWARD PLAN

To consider Scrutiny issues to review.

Copies of the Forward Plan will be available at the meeting.

Minutes:

Miss Waller requested that the Signs Policy report should come to the Panel before being presented to cabinet.  Mr D Brown confirmed that the panel had already seen the policy on 7 December 2018 and that no changes had been made since then.

 

Mr Cross highlighted the recent St George’s Barracks – Potential Acquisition and Development of the Officers Mess Report that had been considered by Cabinet on 20 March.  Mr Lammie confirmed that the St George’s Project would need to be incorporated into the Scrutiny timetable.

 

Mr G Brown asked the Chair to clarify the position on the Localism Working Group that had been established by the Panel and that if it was decided to delay the progress of this working group that the Chair would confirm that he could go ahead with some agreed actions in relation to grass cutting contracts.

 

Mr Lammie confirmed that the Oakham Town Task and Finish group would involve increased workload for members and officers and that the Localism Working Group should be put on hold until that work was complete.  Mr G Brown could take forward the outstanding work in relation to the Localism Group.

 

 

 

716.

ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS

To receive any other items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding.

Minutes:

There was no other urgent business.

717.

DATE AND PREVIEW OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday 12 April 2018 at 7pm

 

Items to include:

 

·         Business Support Review Update

·         Local Transport Plan

Minutes:

Thursday 12 April 2018 at 7pm

 

Items to include:

 

·       Business Support Review Update

·       Local Transport Plan

(Mr D Brown noted that the Local Transport Plan was connected to the Local Plan and that should the timetable for the Local Plan move the Local Transport Plan dates would also change).